Guide device for a strip rolling installation

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a guide device in an installation for deforming a material ( 1 ), including adjustable, extending parallel to each other, edge guides ( 3   a,    3   b ) arranged and positionable on both longitudinal sides ( 2   a,    2   b ) of the material ( 1 ), wherein the edge guides ( 3   a,    3   b ) are subjected to pressure applied by respective positioning devices ( 4 ), characterized in that the at least one positioning device ( 4 ) includes at least two pressure-applying devices ( 4   a,    4   b ) switchable seriesly one after another.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a guide device in an installation for deforming materials, in particular, a guide device as a component of a metal rolling mill, preferably, a strip rolling mill. The guide device serves for guiding strips of different materials, in particular, of metal materials with different compositions, temperatures, widths and thicknesses.

STATE OF THE ART

Edge guides as components of guide devices for rolling mills and, in particular, for lateral guidance of rolled or separated materials are described, e.g., in DE 1 427 923 A. This state-of the-art deals with, in particular, wear of edge guides during guiding of the strip-shaped material.

A method of and a device for positioning such lateral guides for a rolled strip which is transported on a roller table, is also disclosed in DE 4 140 784 A1, wherein in this state-of-the art, likewise, the wear of the adjustable edge guides which are pressed, under pressure, against the strip, has been recognized.

In principle, such edge guides are initially positioned, per side or together, against the strip edges with a predetermined pressure force, at the inlet side and/or outlet side of a rolling mill stand or the entire rolling mill train, to insure that the strip either is exactly displaced through the rolling mill stand and/or can be exactly wound into a coil without displacement.

DE 3 423 560 A1 suggests therefor a position-controlling device for edge guides or guide rollers arranged at the inlet of finishing rolling mill trains for hot-rolled strips and displaceable transverse to the rolling direction.

Likewise, DE 4 003 717 A1 discloses a lateral guide for a rolled strip transported on a roller table and in which the edge guides are driven with hydraulic cylinders, and these hydraulic cylinders are again exactly positionable under a corresponding control, with their pressure being adjustable.

In principle, it is necessary to uniformly and reliably displace strips of different materials, with different temperatures, widths and thicknesses on roller tables of rolling mill trains, in particular, of rolling mill such as steel or aluminum strip rolling mills. Correspondingly, the necessary pressure force of the devices of this type for guiding the strips changes dependent on the material, their temperature, or their width and thickness. The lighter, hotter, wider and/or thinner to-be-guided material, the smaller should be the necessary pressure force to insure, on one hand, a reliable guidance of the strip and, on the other hand, simultaneously to take care that no strip edge deformation takes place, that the strip altogether does not arched or is not deformed in its entirety so that resulting damage of the strip edges or edge guides is avoided.

Electromechanical or hydraulic drives of the edge guides, which are known in the state-of-the art, in principle, are designed for a maximal adjustable pressure force and, as a result, have limited technical possibilities with regard to the adjustment of reduced pressure forces, e.g., for lighter, hotter, wider, and/or thinner strips.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the invention is to provide a guide device in an installation for deforming materials and including extending parallel to each other, edge guides which are positionable on both longitudinal sides of the material and which are well-suited for a reliable adjustment of pressures applied to the edges of the deformable material which are noticeably reduced in comparison with the maximum applied pressure and, thus, permit to adapt the use possibility of the guide devices to light, equally wide and/or particularly thin cross-sections of the material, e.g., thinner strips, while simultaneously preventing strip damages, in particular, in the edge region.

This object is achieved, according to the invention, with a guide device having features of claim 1. Further embodiments of the invention are defined in dependent claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention deals with guide devices of the above-mentioned type which are used in strip rolling mills, e.g., at the inlet and/or outlet side of rolling mill stands such as Steckel rolling mill, reversing stands of cold rolling mills or at the inlet and/or outlet side of tandem rolling mill stands and, especially, in front or behind coilers.

The invention is usable in deformation of all imaginable materials, but in particular in metal rolling mills or plastic deformation trains. It is particular advantageous, however, when the inventive guide device is arranged at the inlet side or the outlet side of at least one rolling mill stand of a finishing rolling mill train of a so-called finish rolling mill or in front of a coiling installation.

According to the invention, in the guide device, two, extending parallel to each other, edge guides are arranged on both longitudinal sides of the material, and with which centering and/or alignment of the deformable material in the deformation installation and, in particular, between the deformation installations such as, e.g., rolling mill stands, is carried out. In order to insure wide use possibilities of guide devices for different materials, preferably, strip dimensions, at least one edge guide is directly subjected to pressure applied by at least one positioning device. In case when only one edge guide is subjected to pressure applied by a corresponding positioning device, the positioning device, via the subjected-to-the pressure, edge guide and via the displaceable material itself, positions the opposite edge guide. In the advantageous case, however, when the edge guides on both longitudinal sides are directly subjected to pressure, each edge guide has its own positioning device.

In order to insure that at least one positioning device is able to apply, via the edge guide, precisely defined pressures to the deformable material within a wider range of adjustable pressures including those which are noticeably below the maximal pressure force, the at least one positioning device includes, according to the invention, at least two, switchable seriesly one after another, pressure-applying devices which so cooperate with each other that they are able to apply, if necessary, two different maximal pressures.

With suitable selection of the switchable seriesly one after another pressure-applying devices, e.g., by using a comparatively large pressure-applying device and a comparatively small pressure-applying device, a basic pressure can preferably be applied with the first pressure-applying device, and a fine adjustment of the total pressure applied by the edge guide to the deformed or deformable material, can be additionally carried out with the second pressure-applying device.

In case the pressure-applying devices include at least two piston-cylinder units, in a particularly advantageous embodiment, the comparatively small cylinder is secured on or in a piston rod of the comparatively large cylinder, preferably, is integrated in the piston rod. Thereby, a particular effective and reliable series switching of the piston-cylinder units becomes available and which, in addition, insures that the pressure applied by the small-piston-cylinder unit is reliably added to the pressure applied by the large piston-cylinder unit. In this case, it is particularly advantageous when the comparatively small piston-cylinder unit is able to apply maximum 50%, advantageously 35%, of the maximal pressure of the comparatively large piston-cylinder unit.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the connection of the pressure-applying devices is effected mechanically, preferably by at least one rack-pinion arrangement. This preferable embodiment insures, with particularly simple means, a reliable positioning of each edge guide parallel to its counterpart within the guide device and, if necessary, completely perpendicular to the longitudinal sides of the deformable material even when several pressure-applying devices are used.

As it has already been discussed above, the inventive guide device is not limited to a certain number of pressure-applying devices per edge guide. Rather, it is advantageous when at least one pressure-applying device with two, seriesly switchable one after another, piston-cylinder units is connected only with one edge guide. Thereby, equipment costs for achieving the object of the invention is limited to a minimum. In this case, the pressure is applied to both longitudinal sides of the material, such as strip edges, when the material is pressed against the edge guide arranged on the opposite longitudinal side of the deformable material, by the edge guide provided with a pressure-applying device.

It is advantageous when the edge guides within the inventive guide device are positioned independently from each other because thereby a reliable execution of the process on both sides of the deformable material is possible. In particular, in case of rolling of so-called continuously tailored blanks with a varying thickness over the strip width, with a smaller pressure application to the comparatively thin strip side in comparison with pressure application to the comparatively thick strip side, the damages of the strip edges can be prevented, with simultaneously reliable guidance of the strip.

In each case, it is advantageous when regulating or control units are connected with at least one positioning device of the inventive guide device. In case several pressure-applying devices are available, it is particularly advantageous when they are regulated or controlled independently of each other. Thereby, in a particularly advantageous manner, a maximal flexibility of the process execution in a deformation installation with as large as possible product diversity is available.

The positioning of one or several edge guides transverse to the material can be carried out, according to the invention, by a synchronized control and regulation of respective positioning devices. However, in an advantageous embodiment, at least one guide rail contributes to the positioning of an edge guide or guides transverse to the material. It is particularly advantageous when at least one positioning device is provided at an end region of a respective edge guide, and a guide rail is arranged between the respective positioning devices. Thereby, displacement of the edge guide, with deviation from the perpendicular to the material, is reliably prevented with particular simple means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in detail below with reference to three schematic drawing figures of different embodiments of the invention. With regard to the drawing figures, they are used simply for illustration purposes and are not intended to limit in any way the scope of protection of the invention, which is defined by the attached claims.

The drawings show:

FIG. 1 a schematic plan view of a first embodiment of the inventive guide device;

FIG. 2 a schematic plan view of a second embodiment of the inventive guide device; and;

FIG. 3 a schematic plan view of a third embodiment of the inventive guide device;

WAYS OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows schematically a plan view of an inventive guide device for guiding a strip-shaped material 1. On both longitudinal sides of the material 1, there are arranged edge guides 3 a and 3 b which are positionable with respect to the strip-shaped material 1 by respective positioning devices 4 a, 4 b and 4 c, 4 d provided at the end regions of the edge guides 3 a, 3 b. With the edge guides 3 a, 3 b, a controlled and regulated, initially predetermined pressure can be applied to the longitudinal edges of the material 1 in a predetermined amount.

For illustration purpose, only the positioning device 4 d is shown in detail in the drawing; according to the first embodiment shown here, however, all of the positioning devices 4 a through 4 d are identically formed. The positioning devices 4 a through 4 d are shown in form of a double cylinder with two differently dimensioned swept volumes 6 a, 6 b, wherein in the comparatively large swept volume 6 a, there is arranged a piston rod 7 a displaceable in a control and regulating manner by a hydraulic device (not shown), and in the comparatively small swept volume 6 b, a comparative smaller piston rod 7 b is displaceably arranged, likewise displaceable in a control and regulating manner by a hydraulic device (not shown). The large piston rod 7 a is secured to a base 8, whereas the smaller piston rod 7 b is connected with the edge guide 3 b. In the embodiment shown in the drawing, the maximum pressure of the double cylinder is provided by the larger piston-cylinder unit, e.g., then when the smaller piston rod 7 b is completely pulled in the double cylinder, and the adjustment of smaller pressures of the positioning device 4 d takes place by addition of piston-cylinder units 4 d, 7 b and 4 d, 7 a which are switched on seriesly one after another, and only then it is precisely adjusted by the comparatively smaller piston-cylinder unit 4 d, 7 b after the large piston 7 a is completely pulled in the double cylinder 4 d.

FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the inventive guide device which differs from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 only in that between the pair of the positioning devices 4 a and 4 b which cooperate with the edge guide 3 b, and the pair of the positioning devices 4 e and 4 d which cooperate with the second edge guide 3 b, there are arranged, respectively, guide rails 5 a, 5 b that alone provide for a transverse displacement of the respective edge guides 3 a, 3 b toward respective longitudinal edges of the material 1.

Finally, FIG. 3 shows the third embodiment of the inventive guide device in which only one respective positioning device 4 a, 4 b is connected with a respective edge guide 3 a, 3 b and which differs from the embodiments according to FIGS. 1 and 2 in that they are arranged essentially in the middle at half length of the respective edge guides 3 a, 3 b. To insure a transverse displacement of the respective edge guides 3 a, 3 b toward the longitudinal edges of the strip material 1, there are provided, at respective ends of the edge guides 3 a, 3 b, guide rails 5 a, 5 b and 5 c, 5 d arranged in pairs on both sides of the respective positioning devices 4 a, 4 b. In the third embodiment of the inventive guide device, the positioning devices 4 a, 4 b also consist of double cylinders with respective large and small piston rods 7 a, 7 b already discussed in detail with reference to FIG. 1. 

1. A guide device in an installation for deforming a material (1), including extending parallel to each other, edge guides (3 a, 3 b) arranged and positionable on both longitudinal sides (2 a, 2 b) of the material (1), wherein at least one edge guide (3 a, 3 b) is subjected to pressure applied by at least one positioning device (4), characterized in that the at least one positioning device (4) includes at least two pressure-applying devices (4 a, 4 b) switchable seriesly one after another.
 2. A guide device according to claim 1, characterized in that the pressure-applying devices (4 a, 4 b) include two, switchable seriesly one after another, piston-cylinder units.
 3. A guide device according to claim 2, characterized in that the two, switchable seriesly one after another, piston-cylinder units consist of comparatively large and comparatively small piston-cylinder units
 4. A guide device according to claim 3, characterized in that the comparatively small cylinder is mounted on a piston rod of the comparatively large cylinder, preferably, is integrated therein.
 5. A guide device according to claim 1, characterized in that connection of the pressure-applying devices (4 a, 4 b) is effected mechanically, preferably by at least one rack-pinion arrangement.
 6. A guide device according to claim 1, characterized in that a first pressure-applying device (4 a) is secured in a desired location, and the pressure application to the material (1) is carried out exclusively by a second pressure-applying device (4 b).
 7. A guide device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one pressure-applying device (4 a, 4 b) having two, switchable seriesly one after another, piston-cylinder units is connected only with one of edge guides (3 a, 3 b).
 8. A guide device according to claim 1, characterized in that the edge guides (3 a, 3 b) are adjusted independently from each other.
 9. A guide device according to one of the foregoing claim 1, characterized in that regulating and/or controlling units are connected with at least one positioning device (4).
 10. A guide device according to claim 9, characterized in that the pressure-applying devices (4 a, 4 b) are controlled or regulated independently from each other.
 11. A guide device according to one of the foregoing claim 1, characterized in that at least one guide rail (15) contributes to the adjustment of the edge guides (3 a, 3 b) transverse to the material (1).
 12. A guide device according to one of the foregoing claim 1, characterized in that it is a component of a metal rolling mill, preferably, of a strip rolling mill.
 13. A guide device according to claim 12, characterized in that it is arranged at the outlet side of at least one rolling mill stand of a finishing rolling mill train.
 14. A guide device according to claim 12, characterized in that it is arranged at the inlet side of at least one rolling mill stand of the finishing rolling mill train. 